250- Dinner Out

                          I was lucky enough to attend a wine tasting evening at Capriccio Grill with two of my lovely team members. Our very own Ishani (pictured above) has shown herself to be a force to be reckoned with in the upselling department and was kind enough to share her night with us.





Check out the menu and some pictures after the jump-

251- Bombastic

I'm tired- here's some new vocab for you. 

    "It's a requisite, you know," droned the voice over the counter. 

What the?

"Sorry," I said, twitching my lips into a smiling grimace. "But what's required?"

   The drone stared at me- eyes narrowed. Shit, I thought miserably, She's a sparkling fountain of personality. 

 "You have to present a receipt to return items."

Oh. 

 I nodded emphatically to show her I completely empathized with her, "Yes, I completely understand. But it was a gift and I'm afraid I don't actually have a receipt for it. It still has its tags on -"

"It has to have a recipet."

 I could feel my face falling and she looked back down at the computer monitor- clearly dismissing me as another profligate shop lifter, aiming to cheat the store of its crappy hand lotion and flimsy flip flops. 

I couldn't help but take in her multi toned dyed hair that was cut in a page boy style around a face that was clearly swollen from lack of sleep and over indulgence in some kind of caffeinated beverage.  I tried again, cheer and good will positively dripping off the syllables.

"Of course! Well, is it okay if I switch it out for another size? My little brother apparently thinks that I'm a size 4 and as flattering as that may be, I'm can't actually get into the darn thing."

She looked back up at me, and flicked her eyes to the display rack of the dress in question. It really was an ugly thing- hot pink with yellow trimming and fat Phoenician lettering print splashed across its bias.

"It's store policy to have a receipt," she finally uttered, customer service training clearly at war with her desire to tell me to give up and leave. The demarcations of the counter clearly was rotting her sense of feminine unity. Despite her taste in nail polish (neon green) and her obvious hatred for her job, she might at least do store credit for the same damn thing-

"Oh, well thank you, I appreciate it." She nodded, a twisted mockery of a smile stole across her features before it faded back into the habitual mask of boredom worn by most store employees. I tucked the dress back into the bag, mindful to clearly display the tags. If she was determined to be a stick and cling to apocryphal disillusions that someone would actually steal this ugly ass thing-

"Excuse me, is that a size 4?"

 A blond with large green eyes was standing at the display of the dress in question, holding one loosely in her hand, a rumpled stack next to it a clear indicator that she had been rummaging through the dresses in search of her particular size.

 

"Um, yes," I answered, tucking my bands behind my ear," It is."

"And you're returning it? Because I've been to the three other stores and no one has my size." She half heartedly folded up the dress in hand and placed it carelssely on top of the pile- the drone emitted a low buzz of frustration behind me but I smiled back at the blond.

"Well, since I don't actually have the receipt..."

"But you don't want it right?" She asked, eyes wavering from the yellow bag in my hand to the counter behind me.

"No, I was hoping to return it."

"Oh, would you take $45 for it?" 

You have got to be kidding me- I'd take $15 for it.

"You would buy it from me?" I asked, uncertain I understood. The drone behind me obviously was as incredulous as I was judging from the noises she was making behind me. 

"I would take it off your hands if you just wanted it get rid of it," she said. 

Practicality warred with disbelief for a moment but the pragmatic hegemony of the material world quickly found my tongue for me.

"Sure," I heard myself say," $45 is fine."

The ugly thing cost $60 and I obviously am never going to get a chance to redeem it for it's actual value.

 The drone was hissing something to a fellow drone behind me but I ignored her bombastic little jabs at customer policy and tasteless transactions as I handed over the yellow bag to the now beaming blond who was holding out a fifty in return.

  It really was an arbitrary call, I thought happily. After all, if it wasn't for tyrannical policies, I'd be walking out $45 poorer and with overpriced sunglasses.

And besides, I mused as Blond thanked me and turned to leave,  who keeps receipts?

 

252- That Kid

So, it's Saturday night...

And yes, you know it- I'm not going out because I have to be up before sunrise.

Again.

Oh well, I have my little rebellions- like the gorgeous Rachel Roy dress I bought for no other reason than I freakin wanted it. (And the swim suit cover that was more expensive than the bathing suit I bought. )

Tangent. Sorry. But instead of going out with people on a Saturday night- because my people are at least three to five hours away, I decided to do something drastic.

Study for the GRE.

Oh, yes. I hear you- Studying on a Saturday night??? ---Oh yes, you bet your sweet apple pie bottom I am. I am absoultey sick of being stuck in this position of rejection letters and fear. So, why not try an indirect approach and go back to school and then get internships, networking and not just focus on working to graduate?


Hm. Concept.


And I've been wanting an excuse to work on my vocabulary. So, as I learn- you're going to learn.

253- Turning Tables SYTYCD

So, I fully intended to discuss the entire show of So You Think You Can Dance tonight- I even have notes!

But my DVR kept skipping- and I missed Caitlynn and Mitchell. So, after the full night of notes- I went back and luckily it had recorded separately. (Lesson learned: never press random buttons during a recording)

Oh thank you DVR gods. Thank you because that was easily my favorite of the night--and so far the season.

I was already a fan of Caitlynn but I didn't expect to like Mitchell (Ten Across the Board!) because of his less than contained personality. Due to his injury last week, I didn't get to see him perform so this was a new dancer and one I honestly didn't expect to like.

But the contemporary piece by Stacey Tookey was set to Adele's Turning Tables about a woman who wants to leave her man but can't find the strength to walk away when he faces her.


And some of my favorite routines have sets. This one was particulary....someone had some design training- that much is for sure.

Downstage right is a white arm chair and white lamp. 

Behind it center stage is a dominating black wingback with black lamp. 

Let's just say they didn't have to use costumes to show anything other than their fashion preferences.

The lights followed suit- using a soft blue that set the mood but didn't distract during the partnering during the majority of the piece. However, when both fell were in their chairs, they used solo spotlights to highlight the disconnection.

Highlighting the distance between two people.

But let me stop showing off the Bachelor of Arts and discuss the dancing....

Caitlynn is beautiful. I loved her last week and I still love her. She glows. And she embodies the character with which she is asked to step into. Last week, it was a tough woman hitting hard and this week it was a young woman trying to find her strength. And while it's easy for me to say whether someone is in character or not- I couldn't find a fault in her face much less the beauty in which she carried herself as a dancer. 

At rise, the two are both sitting in their respective chairs and both feeling their own inner turmoil. Passing a hand over her face, she begins to move...

Caitlynn's twists and contortions as she flails in her chair....you could feel her confusion, her determination, her fragileness. And can I just say her feet were perfect.

And he was in complete control of his body- but there was a softness and grace about im that made me feel perahps he's also fighting the end more than fighting her.

But when he comes over the top and grabs her, twists her and pulls her off the chair and into his arms-...And the desperation in which she grabs for him in the moments where she lets go of what she knows and falls back to what she can't let go. ...


Well, you realize why she can't let go. There's something about the ability to let go and just let yourself be taken over by someone that is an addictive quality. He offers her the ability to be vulnerable in his protection but only if she understands the bruises that come with it.

You can see an anger in her as she struggles to break free but even when she pushes him away, she stands there and lets him sweep her away again. She reaches for freedom and she walks away but when faced with his yearning, she is powerless. She sinks down into herself, unable to hurt the man she loves despite knowing instinctively that its wrong.

And my absolute favorite moment : Her tucked underneath his arm, reaching out to the freedom and havig him spin her slowly, tenderly around and throwing her up with him, pulling her back from the edge and back towards the chairs (!).

Back toward him. Back toward them.

You can see her strugffle and her anger with herself. more than him. She knows she's the one to fault- she cant leave despite everything she feels. And her guilt that perhaps she's keeping him prisoner as well is echoed in her twists away from him, only to come face to face to his determined refusal. And refuse to do any more than stare up at him in frustrated beauty.

 I know the choreographer wanted the man to be a more dominating personality, maybe more forceful and cruel but Mitchell quipped "that's not me at all!" and you can see he went against the story in his own way- brought his own take on things.

Maybe this was intentional and maybe he just lacks the power to do what Stacey asked of him but it was so much more powerful to see a man struggle with his own desires- refusing to let go, even though he knows that's what she wants.

They say if you love someone to let them go. Perhaps he is more selfish than he would like to admit- pulling and twisting but always catching her when she falls. The moment when she leaped on to the white armchair and flew into his arms only to be caught in a fetal position was raw power contained, trust and connection radiating from them. 

And when he picks her up and puts her back int the chair...she sinks down as he heads back to his. But in a moment of passion, he dips down- agony and frustration evident in his very aura- knowing he is doing wrong. Knowing he should let go as well but refusing to. and avoiding the emotions that she herself has come to accept.

For now.

Mitchell then slowly crosses his leg, and turns the light off.

Caitlynn is left in a white spotlight, clutching her heart. Apart but not alone.

And as the lights flew up and the audience cheered- you blinked away the moment and realized the spot on Caitlynn's face was where  Mitchell "accidently punched" her, cutting deep enough to bleed---

Well, maybe all that emotion was more of a girl in pain than a girl in the midst of a character

She was literally crying in shock throughout the entire judge panel. And maybe all that trust she showed in him was unwarranted- I mean, it wasn't a scratch, it was a deep bleed. I sympathize with her trying to explain that she doesn't mean to cry on stage- when someone hits you in the face- you cry. Some kind of weird shock sets in and tries to wash it off- don't ask me I don't know but it happens despite your best intentions NOT to cry in front of people.

Sorry- went on a tangent-

But both dancers brought a poise and emotion to the dance which made it go from a simple and predictable number to a quivering, uncertainty. There were other numbers in the show which reduced the audience to tears but this one- this one was the most honest to me.

254- Who Let Them Out?

So, today- the Front Office went on a safari. 

I was going to break it down for you- but pictures will keep you entertained far better-

Check it out after the jump.

255- Round 2

I'm tired of fighting everything in my life. Tired of fighting to get a new job, to fix friendships, to heal my own self worth.

I have no idea what I'm doing anymore but I'm letting go of the fighting.

People always tell me that if it's meant to be, it'll happen. Obviously right now- I need to relax into the flow and just get to some sort of peace with what the world looks like right now.

Or if I can't get to that peace- I'll know I don't have to fight it- I'll just jump off the edge and hope I make it to the bottom.

We get one life- and I'm tired of all the struggles- I'm healthy- that's more than a lot of people have and they make the best of their time  So, yes I have a lot going for me despite the current slump of post graduation.

So, I'm going to work on me.

But I'm worn out from fighting so I'm going to just see what happens when I let life happen.

256- Flaunting My Lack of Musical Taste

1. What are you listening to right now?
Rolling in the Deep- Adele

2. What song makes you sad?
On My Mind- Michael Buble

3. What is the most annoying song in the world?
The Wild Thing- I swear to god they only played that on all the radio stations in Memphis one year and it now literally makes me cringe when I hear it.

4. Your all time favorite band?
The Spice Girls-- I'm being ironic but no really

5. Your newly discovered band is?
The Goo Goo Dolls ( I know I'm late)

6. Best female voice?
Adele

7. Best male voice?
Michael Buble

8. Music type you find yourself listening to most?
Oh god- Pop Vocal

9. What do you listen to, to hype you up?
Dog Days Are Over- Florence and the Machine
Heads will Roll- The Yeah Yeah Yeahs
(Oh god- these both were covered on Glee...)
Animal- Neon Trees
I Can Do Anything- 3Oh!3

10. What do you listen to when you want to calm down?
Still- Matt Nathanson


12. Band you find yourself listening to the most right now?
Maroon 5

13. Most hated band?
The Dave Matthew Band- High School Marching Band had an unhealthy obsession with it.

14. Song that makes you think?
What Hurts The Most- Rascal Flatts


15. Band that you think the world should love as much as you do?

Matt Nathanson- come on people- singer songwriter talent isn't often- and he's funny!

16. Coolest music video?
Further cementing my lack of musical distinction- Thriller- Michael Jackson (Don't deny it)

17. Can you play a musical instrument?
Hahaha god no.

19. Ever dated a musician?
Yea- I don't recommend it.

20. Do you wish yourself that you were a musician?
Nah- I'll just enjoy it.

21. Last song that you heard on the radio/cd...etc...?
Worrisome Heart- Melody Gardot

22. What do you think of Classical music?
Beautiful. However, I am guilty of getting bored with it if I'm just stuck listening to it. But give me a book and some candles- let's go.

23. What do you think of Country music?
It's growing on me...

24. What do you think of Death Metal?
No- absolutely not- go away

25. Do you listen to music in foreign languages?
Honestly? No.

26. Best local act you can think of?
Um- only one I know of is The Heavy Eyes

27. If you were a musical instrument what would you be?
Drums- slow and steady and then - bam it just goes. 



28. Do you listen to the radio?
Depends on whether or not I've update my iphone lately

29. Do you watch music TV?
Do we still have Music Tv?

30. Do you follow the music charts, like the top 40
No- but I tend to uses it to learn new bands

31. Have you meet any famous musicians?
Matt Nathanson, Cyndi Lauper, The Lead Singer from Train

32. Are any of your friends/family/etc. musicians?
Rachael, Matt, and Tad might call themselves musicians. I call them band nerds. 

33. Song that best describes your feelings right now?!!!!
How- Maroon 5

34. Song that describes your life?

Tangled Up in Me- Skye Sweetnam

35. Do you know the names of all the band members that you listen to?
No- sorry guys.

36. Does a musicians physical attractiveness play a role in the music that you listen to?
I'm half in love with Matt Nathanson and Michael Buble and trust me when I tell you that they're not the best looking guys in the music industry right now.

37. What famous musician do you want to marry?
I'll take Michael Buble please.

38. Favorite movie sound track?
The Wedding Date

39. What do your parents listen to?
They put the radio on mostly classic rock stations- I got my lack of musical knowledge from them. 

40. Do you wear band etc T-shirts?
No- but I would wear one if it was ironic enough. 

41. What do you think of people who do?
They wasted 40 dollars?

42. What music sub-culture do you feel like you belong to?
Top 100- sad but true

43. What song is stuck in your head right now?
Show Me What I'm Looking For- Carolina Liar

44. Do you sing in the shower?
I hum.

45. If so, what? If not, why not?
No one wants to hear my voice- including me.

46. Would you rather marry a musician or be one yourself?
Be one- musician's are like actors- too damn touchy

47. How important is your partners taste in music to you?
I don't mind- but I would not like a guy listening to Show tunes or hard death metal...I guess it reflects their overall personality

48. Hanson moves in next door to you, do you go introduce yourself, or do you arrange to beat them?
I'd walk over and tell them I hated them growing up- but I now appreciate the joy of saying Mmm Bop.

49. Do you cook to music?
Yes!

50. Do you sing on the toilet?
....what the hell?